BOSTON – The International Progressive MS Alliance has announced the first round of grants to fund groundbreaking research on progressive forms of multiple sclerosis.
A panel of more than 40 experts in multiple sclerosis (MS) reviewed 195 research proposals received from 22 countries. The panel chose to make 22 “challenge” grants to researchers in nine countries. The grants will fund 1- to 2-year pilot studies that represent the first steps in a program that will cumulatively invest nearly $30 million over a 5-year period.
“This is the first time we’ve had a truly global, international initiative,” said Dr. Alan Thompson, chair of the alliance’s scientific steering committee and a neurologist and professor at University College London Faculty on Brain Sciences. “It’s much more about being a catalyst to bring together the best institutions worldwide.”
The announcement was made at a press conference held during the joint meeting of the European and Americas Committees for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, although the press conference was not officially part of the meeting.
Seven of the grants were made to researchers investigating potential new treatments as well as biomarkers and outcome measures that could be used to track disease progression in clinical trials. Another seven funded studies will seek to understand the underlying cause of progressive disease. One grant-winning study aims to discover biomarkers that reflect progression pathophysiology for primary progressive MS.
Three studies will investigate the genetics of progressive subtypes of MS. Two will be used to develop animal models of progressive MS. Two will investigate new rehabilitative methods for patients with progressive disease.
The next step is for the alliance to provide 4 years of funding for a global, collaborative research network of about 10 centers. The next call for research proposals will come at the beginning of November 2014.
In a video interview, we spoke with one of the grant award winners, Francisco Quintana, Ph.D., of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, about his research proposal and views on the initiative.